Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of stroke by almost a third, 32%. “The research for over more than four decades has shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with adverse health outcomes,” said lead author Dr. Crystal Wiley Cene, professor of clinical medicine. He notes that these two factors are also associated with a worse prognosis for people who have already been diagnosed with coronary heart disease or a stroke.
Both conditions, social isolation and loneliness, are common but underestimated factors in cardiovascular disease and brain disease, according to scientists. They are also associated with elevated markers of inflammation, increased symptoms of chronic stress, lower levels of physical activity, and other behaviors that negatively impact cardiovascular and brain health.
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of early death. Heart attacks and strokes, which threaten longevity, are especially insidious and dangerous; it is often difficult to predict them.
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